When I arrived in London to start my master’s, one thought kept repeating in my head: 
I have one year. One chance to make the most of this experience. 

Postgraduate degrees move fast, especially as an international student. Between coursework, adjusting to a new city, building a routine, and trying to plan my future, everything felt intense. Exciting, yes… but also overwhelming. 

Pretty early on, I realised something important: 
A degree alone wouldn’t be enough. 
Yes, a PGT qualification sounds impressive — but so many other students around the country also graduate with postgraduate degrees every year. I needed something that would make me stand out, prepare me for the real world, and help me build confidence in my own abilities. 

Looking for direction, I decided to visit CareerZone to see what’s out there.

Scrolling through opportunities was almost like discovering a different side of the University. That’s when the Westminster Award caught my attention. 
A structured award? Points? A certificate signed by the Vice Chancellor? Something I could add to my CV and LinkedIn? 
Honestly, that alone was enough for me to click into the details. 

But what happened after I started the Award surprised me. 

It wasn’t just a checklist or something to complete for the sake of it. 
It was the pathway that introduced me to everything the University had to offer. 

Through the Award, I took part in Future Ready Mentoring and Westminster Working Cultures, which helped me think more clearly about my goals and how to present myself in a professional environment. Those experiences made me more confident in how I communicate, whether that was speaking to mentors, networking, or sharing ideas in group settings.

One of the biggest changes I noticed was how much more comfortable I became talking about myself and my experiences. The Award pushed me to reflect, to practise explaining what I do, and to speak with more confidence, which are skills that I now use every day.

But the part that truly made a difference for me was the community. 

There’s something motivating about being surrounded by students who are also trying to improve themselves, push their limits, and make the most of their short time at university. The Award didn’t make me feel like I was doing this alone, it made me feel part of something meaningful, something that would benefit my future. 

And during a year that felt busy, intense, and sometimes overwhelming, the Award gave me exactly what I needed: 
a structured, manageable way to grow. 
It pushed me at the right moments, kept me accountable, and helped me stay connected to opportunities I would’ve missed otherwise. 

What I didn’t expect was how much it would change my journey long-term. 
Because of the Award, I discovered roles, activities, and experiences that shaped my confidence. And eventually, I became part of the very team that supported my growth, which is something I’m really proud of. 

Looking back now, joining the Westminster Award was one of the best decisions I made as a PGT student. It helped me transform a single challenging year into a meaningful, full, and memorable experience. 

So, if you’re a postgraduate student thinking “I’ll get to it eventually”… 
Here’s my honest advice: 

Start now. 
Say yes. 
Your future self will thank you. 

***

A big thanks to Nadine for sharing her journey with us. Nadine is our Westminster Award intern, and she graduated from the University of Westminster with an MSc in Applied Biotechnology.”

Find more information about what we do on our Zone29 website.